...And Myrrh

The mystical Gifts of the Magi, brought to the baby Jesus by the three wise men, included gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They seem like peculiar baby gifts, but the ancients knew their value. Gold had material worth; frankincense smelled good; and myrrh was for healing. It still is.

Resin from the myrrh tree; a gnarled, spiky, aromatic plant from the Middle East and East Africa, is an antiseptic and it's effective for fighting toothache, mouth ulcers, and sore throats, according to Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal (Storey Books, 2001). Ancient Egyptians burned myrrh resin to keep away mosquitoes and ancient Greeks used it as a purifying embalming fluid.

Soothing, woody-scented myrrh is also the key aromatic ingredient in I Coloniali's Mirra & Mirra line of bath and body products, including effervescent bath tablets, shower cream, and body lotion. For more information call (845) 358-5468 or visit www.int-fragrance.com.

To perfume your home with myrrh, try Diptyque's Myrrhe scented candle, room spray, or scented oil, part of this French company's excellent selection of aromatic items. Diptyque products are available at Diptyque stores, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, and other fine retailers. For more information call (617) 351-2430 or visit www.diptyqueusa.com.

Leslie Gilbert Elman